Lips and Lungs - by The Captain
So, Lips reckons he’ll quit if the Cats don’t fire up; 12 games to keep his job. I’m not sure this is such a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s done an excellent job, but he’s been there seven years and perhaps the current playing group need some fresh ideas. Now, this whole thing might just be a bluff, some kind of motivational tactic to inspire the players to ‘do it for Coach’, but what if he did leave? Who would be best to fill the breech?
The way I see it, coaches generally fit into one of 4 moulds; the disciplinarian, the father figure, the best friend or the innovator. Coaches might contain elements of other categories, but for the most part they are one or the other. Listen now.
The Disciplinarian:
Historically the most common, the disciplinarian contains elements of the father figure but with more of an abusive step-dad kind of feel. Uncompromising, it’s their way or the magoo’s; just ask Aker about Leigh Matthews, or ‘The Chop’ Gardiner about Worsfold. Neil Craig fits the mould, and Dean Laidley is trying, but with about as many wins as dead supporters, it ain’t really working.
The Father Figure:
Both the disciplinarian and father figure will abuse and belittle but the father figure will, at the players lowest point, praise and encourage, making the encouragement feel that much more momentous. It’s sort of a ‘break em down, build em back up’ approach. Manipulative bastards. Sorry Sir. I love you dad. Often coaches who have begun as disciplinarians will evolve into father figures, such as Rodney Eade, Denis Pagan and Mick Malthouse.
The Best Friend:
These coaches constantly back their players publicly and are positive 90% of the time, making that 10% have the desired effect; kinda like when a mate tells you he thinks you might have a drinking problem, only he says this while you’re both at the pub. Lips would fit into this group along with Neale Daniher, Chris Connolly, Paul Roos and Alistair Clarkson, although we all know Kennett will be firing him after this season. Long live Jeffery. Magnificent bastard.
The Innovator:
These guys are constantly trialling new tactics and motivational methods; very outside the box type people. To pull this off you probably need strong father figure type traits as well, like Kevin Sheedy and Terry Wallace. Lately Grant ‘Walnut’ Thomas has been trying hard to fill this role with trips to the movies instead of training and losing instead of winning. It wouldn’t surprise me if Nick Riewoldt starting in the backline against Geelong was on the advice of a Feng Shui expert.
The Exception:
As always, there is an exception to the rule; this type of coach being sly, conniving, ungrateful, disloyal, dishonest, vain and probably mentally unstable; ladies and gentleman, Mark Williams!
All of these types of coaches have had some success; they key is to match the coach to the club, the city, the culture. Keeping in mind Mrs. Watson’s latest offering, any prospective Geelong coach must be mindful of history and how it repeats itself. He (or she, lets keep an open mind here) must be prepared for the fragile eco-system that is Geelong. The whole town rides on the confidence of this team and conversely the town’s confidence rides with the team. Again, echoing Mrs. Watson, no other town can make this claim.
The last great Geelong coach, if I can call him that, was Malcolm Blight, an innovator who brought a little bit of the ‘us against the world’ attitude with him. I think the fact that he was so innovative, and unafraid to try some of the audacious things he did, isolated him from Geelong and its traditional conservatism. This, I think, freed him and the team somewhat, from the pressure and expectations of the town. Anyone else remember him shifting Gaz Snr. mid-game to full-back to play on Jason Dunstall? I do, and people were scratching their heads, questioning the sanity of the coach. Admittedly, Dunstall kicked about another 4 on Ablett, who had never played full back in his life, but the point was made; anything can happen. He made it difficult for the fans, and probably the players, to relate to him, thus elevating himself to an untouchable pedestal; for who were we to question the man when we couldn’t understand him.
Lips Thompson, on the other hand, is your every man, your mate. While Malcolm was kicking 70m torps to win finals, Bomber was toiling away in the back pocket for the powerhouse Essendon sides of 80’s. And he brings the same no-nonsense, hard work approach to coaching; a method appreciated in a city of industry such as Geelong. His methods are pragmatic, understandable and perfect for teaching young men how become league footballers and a young side how to become competitive, recent evidence aside. But is it enough to get over the ultimate hump? Granted, Blighty didn’t either, but at least he gave ‘em three tries at it, and he got there in fewer games than Lips.
I don’t want to lead the torch and pitchfork brigade after just a few sub-standard games, but the man himself has admitted he might only have 12 games left to save his career. And often a coach can only take a team so far; Sydney, for example, improved greatly under the disciplinarian reign of Rocket Eade but it took the best friend approach of Paul Roos to achieve the ultimate.
What we can safely say is that Essendon, on a nine game losing streak, are about the only team struggling more than Geelong. And to be honest, the Cats should bend them over and give them a good seeing to. But either way things pan out it’ll be a timely reminder for Lips and the Geelong Football Club, as Essendon have been coached by the same bloke for 25 years. Perhaps Sheeds, a classic innovator, might have a bit of advice for Lips, his former player. Or perhaps he’ll line Scott Lucas up at full back. You just never know with these bastards.
Cats by 32.
________________________________________
Big League Little League’s non-celebrity tips
Can’t choose between Collingwood and Melbourne? Couldn’t give a toss between Richmond and the Kangaroos? Don’t even know who Fremantle are playing? Then this is for you! Every Friday we’ll be posting a different, non-celebrity’s tips to help you climb the corporate ladder by losing the office tipping contest to the boss. Good job, boot lace!
Want Mrs Watson and the Captain to ridicule your tips? Email us by Thursday at bigleaguelittleleague@hotmail.com and you could be our next non-celebrity tipster!
This week’s non-celebrity tipster: Perennial drinker and Melbourne rock God; some call him the Reverend, some call him Michael, but most know him simply as, Moe.
Moe pictured, with his biggest fan...
Geelong
Richmond
Adelaide
Sydney
Port Adelaide
Western Bulldogs
West Coast
Collingwood
Captain: Moe seems firmly entrenched on the Richmond and Collingwood band wagon, the interstaters pick themselves, and he's gone with the Cats, who I reckon are Mortal locks for tonight.
Mrs. Watson: It's a no brainer tonight, seriously. Surely, after losing to the Eagles by only 3 points, they won't go down to the Bombers. Will they? The Richmond v Kangaroos game is more difficult. I, personally, think that the Kangaroos will win. A close call against Sydney last week, so I reckon they're there abouts.
What does Moe know about football anyways, the guy has an official membership to to the "House MD" fanclub, and an attraction to button-eyed sock puppets. I've seen the ads, that House guy limps like Nathan Brown. Speaking of which, that metro-wanker is back this week. Oh, joy (please note sarcasm).
Captain: Does the TAB post odds on things like ‘Nathan Brown to break the same leg in sickening collision with Drew Petrie’s head’? I’ve got a bad feeling about Browny this week. Speaking of the TAB, Carlton would be worth a go at about $8, wouldn’t they?
Mrs. Watson: Are you joking? Those are still generous odds for that terrible, terrible football team. Don’t waste your coin, Captain.
The really interesting game, I reckon, is Monday’s clash between the Demons and the Maggies. Should be a good one. Gary Lyon has rather exaggeratedly labelled it the game of the season, but I’d call a Melbourne vs Collingwood game just a good place to get your wallet stolen. I hope Melbourne win. Those Magpie bastards need to be taken down a peg or two. Moe’s right though, Collingwood will probably win, but keep an eye on how they go without Dane Swan.
Captain: Yeah, I reckon a lot of people are still sceptical of Melbourne; Collingwood too. I’m surprised Moe isn’t with Neale Daniher though, you know, one Reverend to another. Oh well, thanks anyway Moe.
So, Lips reckons he’ll quit if the Cats don’t fire up; 12 games to keep his job. I’m not sure this is such a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s done an excellent job, but he’s been there seven years and perhaps the current playing group need some fresh ideas. Now, this whole thing might just be a bluff, some kind of motivational tactic to inspire the players to ‘do it for Coach’, but what if he did leave? Who would be best to fill the breech?
The way I see it, coaches generally fit into one of 4 moulds; the disciplinarian, the father figure, the best friend or the innovator. Coaches might contain elements of other categories, but for the most part they are one or the other. Listen now.
The Disciplinarian:
Historically the most common, the disciplinarian contains elements of the father figure but with more of an abusive step-dad kind of feel. Uncompromising, it’s their way or the magoo’s; just ask Aker about Leigh Matthews, or ‘The Chop’ Gardiner about Worsfold. Neil Craig fits the mould, and Dean Laidley is trying, but with about as many wins as dead supporters, it ain’t really working.
The Father Figure:
Both the disciplinarian and father figure will abuse and belittle but the father figure will, at the players lowest point, praise and encourage, making the encouragement feel that much more momentous. It’s sort of a ‘break em down, build em back up’ approach. Manipulative bastards. Sorry Sir. I love you dad. Often coaches who have begun as disciplinarians will evolve into father figures, such as Rodney Eade, Denis Pagan and Mick Malthouse.
The Best Friend:
These coaches constantly back their players publicly and are positive 90% of the time, making that 10% have the desired effect; kinda like when a mate tells you he thinks you might have a drinking problem, only he says this while you’re both at the pub. Lips would fit into this group along with Neale Daniher, Chris Connolly, Paul Roos and Alistair Clarkson, although we all know Kennett will be firing him after this season. Long live Jeffery. Magnificent bastard.
The Innovator:
These guys are constantly trialling new tactics and motivational methods; very outside the box type people. To pull this off you probably need strong father figure type traits as well, like Kevin Sheedy and Terry Wallace. Lately Grant ‘Walnut’ Thomas has been trying hard to fill this role with trips to the movies instead of training and losing instead of winning. It wouldn’t surprise me if Nick Riewoldt starting in the backline against Geelong was on the advice of a Feng Shui expert.
The Exception:
As always, there is an exception to the rule; this type of coach being sly, conniving, ungrateful, disloyal, dishonest, vain and probably mentally unstable; ladies and gentleman, Mark Williams!
All of these types of coaches have had some success; they key is to match the coach to the club, the city, the culture. Keeping in mind Mrs. Watson’s latest offering, any prospective Geelong coach must be mindful of history and how it repeats itself. He (or she, lets keep an open mind here) must be prepared for the fragile eco-system that is Geelong. The whole town rides on the confidence of this team and conversely the town’s confidence rides with the team. Again, echoing Mrs. Watson, no other town can make this claim.
The last great Geelong coach, if I can call him that, was Malcolm Blight, an innovator who brought a little bit of the ‘us against the world’ attitude with him. I think the fact that he was so innovative, and unafraid to try some of the audacious things he did, isolated him from Geelong and its traditional conservatism. This, I think, freed him and the team somewhat, from the pressure and expectations of the town. Anyone else remember him shifting Gaz Snr. mid-game to full-back to play on Jason Dunstall? I do, and people were scratching their heads, questioning the sanity of the coach. Admittedly, Dunstall kicked about another 4 on Ablett, who had never played full back in his life, but the point was made; anything can happen. He made it difficult for the fans, and probably the players, to relate to him, thus elevating himself to an untouchable pedestal; for who were we to question the man when we couldn’t understand him.
Lips Thompson, on the other hand, is your every man, your mate. While Malcolm was kicking 70m torps to win finals, Bomber was toiling away in the back pocket for the powerhouse Essendon sides of 80’s. And he brings the same no-nonsense, hard work approach to coaching; a method appreciated in a city of industry such as Geelong. His methods are pragmatic, understandable and perfect for teaching young men how become league footballers and a young side how to become competitive, recent evidence aside. But is it enough to get over the ultimate hump? Granted, Blighty didn’t either, but at least he gave ‘em three tries at it, and he got there in fewer games than Lips.
I don’t want to lead the torch and pitchfork brigade after just a few sub-standard games, but the man himself has admitted he might only have 12 games left to save his career. And often a coach can only take a team so far; Sydney, for example, improved greatly under the disciplinarian reign of Rocket Eade but it took the best friend approach of Paul Roos to achieve the ultimate.
What we can safely say is that Essendon, on a nine game losing streak, are about the only team struggling more than Geelong. And to be honest, the Cats should bend them over and give them a good seeing to. But either way things pan out it’ll be a timely reminder for Lips and the Geelong Football Club, as Essendon have been coached by the same bloke for 25 years. Perhaps Sheeds, a classic innovator, might have a bit of advice for Lips, his former player. Or perhaps he’ll line Scott Lucas up at full back. You just never know with these bastards.
Cats by 32.
________________________________________
Big League Little League’s non-celebrity tips
Can’t choose between Collingwood and Melbourne? Couldn’t give a toss between Richmond and the Kangaroos? Don’t even know who Fremantle are playing? Then this is for you! Every Friday we’ll be posting a different, non-celebrity’s tips to help you climb the corporate ladder by losing the office tipping contest to the boss. Good job, boot lace!
Want Mrs Watson and the Captain to ridicule your tips? Email us by Thursday at bigleaguelittleleague@hotmail.com and you could be our next non-celebrity tipster!
This week’s non-celebrity tipster: Perennial drinker and Melbourne rock God; some call him the Reverend, some call him Michael, but most know him simply as, Moe.
Moe pictured, with his biggest fan...
Geelong
Richmond
Adelaide
Sydney
Port Adelaide
Western Bulldogs
West Coast
Collingwood
Captain: Moe seems firmly entrenched on the Richmond and Collingwood band wagon, the interstaters pick themselves, and he's gone with the Cats, who I reckon are Mortal locks for tonight.
Mrs. Watson: It's a no brainer tonight, seriously. Surely, after losing to the Eagles by only 3 points, they won't go down to the Bombers. Will they? The Richmond v Kangaroos game is more difficult. I, personally, think that the Kangaroos will win. A close call against Sydney last week, so I reckon they're there abouts.
What does Moe know about football anyways, the guy has an official membership to to the "House MD" fanclub, and an attraction to button-eyed sock puppets. I've seen the ads, that House guy limps like Nathan Brown. Speaking of which, that metro-wanker is back this week. Oh, joy (please note sarcasm).
Captain: Does the TAB post odds on things like ‘Nathan Brown to break the same leg in sickening collision with Drew Petrie’s head’? I’ve got a bad feeling about Browny this week. Speaking of the TAB, Carlton would be worth a go at about $8, wouldn’t they?
Mrs. Watson: Are you joking? Those are still generous odds for that terrible, terrible football team. Don’t waste your coin, Captain.
The really interesting game, I reckon, is Monday’s clash between the Demons and the Maggies. Should be a good one. Gary Lyon has rather exaggeratedly labelled it the game of the season, but I’d call a Melbourne vs Collingwood game just a good place to get your wallet stolen. I hope Melbourne win. Those Magpie bastards need to be taken down a peg or two. Moe’s right though, Collingwood will probably win, but keep an eye on how they go without Dane Swan.
Captain: Yeah, I reckon a lot of people are still sceptical of Melbourne; Collingwood too. I’m surprised Moe isn’t with Neale Daniher though, you know, one Reverend to another. Oh well, thanks anyway Moe.
posted by mrs. watson at 11:48 am
1 Comments:
10 points off Captain. Nice work Cats. Any chance of some comments on the World Cup?
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